Elton Lewis
Director, VITEMA

Elton Lewis was nominated by Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr., for the position of Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) on November 23, 2010. On December 6, 2010 he was appointed Acting Director, and assumed duties. He was sworn in as Director on May 3, 2011 following his confirmation by the 29th Legislature of the US Virgin Islands. He also serves as Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor. In this most critical capacity, Director Lewis assists the Governor with his most important responsibility, that of protecting citizens, property, and businesses from the threat of terrorism and natural and man-made disasters. 

Most recently, Gov. de Jongh appointed Lewis to serve as the State Coordinator for the 1033 Law Enforcement Support Program, which is administered through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). As the State Coordinator, Lewis is charged with facilitating the process of law enforcement agencies acquiring military surplus equipment. The Law Enforcement Support program also provides general equipment, such as file cabinets, copiers, and fax machines that agencies may need to function but perhaps are unable to afford.

Prior to his appointment as VITEMA Director, Lewis worked as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Virgin Islands National Guard (VING) and served as Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) from March 2003 to January 2007. He received his Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies at Central Texas College in 1982 while serving in the U.S. Army and later received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Roger Williams University. He has a graduate certificate from Central Michigan University in Leadership.

Lewis is a member of the VING where he holds the rank of Brigadier General (BG) and serves as the Assistant Adjutant General. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 154th Session; the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; the U.S. Army Protective Service; and has completed the U.S. Army War College as a senior fellow with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He served as a security specialist with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-(FEMA) as well as on numerous special projects, task forces and commissions. He has participated in the following professional development and training courses: Terrorism Planning Course: Incident Command System Training; National Incident Management System Training Program; and special training in a National Response Plan. He is currently enrolled in the Homeland Security Executive Leaders Program (ELP), at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).

He is a member of the National Guard Association (NGAUS), the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), Military Police Regimental Association - Life Member; Association of the United States Army (AUSA) - Life Member; American Federal Contract Investigators Association (AFCIA); International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM); National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and a member of the American Legion, Post 85.

With a love and passion for history, Lewis has published” Historical profiles of the St. Croix district of the Virgin Islands Police Department”.

He is married to Janice E. La Bega-Lewis and has two children.